Wrexham’s £35 million offer fails to sway Lyon’s Sulc

Pavel Sulc has revealed that he turned down a summer transfer to Wrexham because the Welsh club is based in a town of just about 45,000 residents. The Lyon attacking midfielder was linked with the Championship side in what appeared to be a club‑record deal worth around £35 million, which would have made him the most expensive signing in Wrexham’s history.

What prompted the rejection

Speaking to Seznam Zpravy, Sulc said he asked his representatives to present only “really serious things, not hypotheses or gossip”. He added that Lyon had to consider the size of the offer and that “none seemed high enough to sell me”, even though Wrexham’s bid was the highest he received.

He also cited the impact of Wrexham’s Hollywood owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, noting that while the club has a “cult” fairy‑tale story, he did not want to move to a small town in Wales or to the Championship.

Other interests and season context

Besides Wrexham, Serie A giants Juventus and Premier League side Leeds United were reported to have shown interest, but Sulc said the offers were not sufficient. He mentioned that a move to Juventus would have appealed to him and his girlfriend Natali because of the club’s history, stadium and the sizeable Czech community in Italy.

Lyon keep Pavel Šulc after €40 million Wrexham bid falls flat

Sulc, a Czech Republic international, finished last season with 14 goals and seven assists for Lyon and has already contributed three assists in seven appearances this campaign, as Lyon sit second in Ligue 1.

Wrexham’s record signing, Getty Anthony Patterson, arrived from Sunderland in August on a deal that could rise to £10 million if clauses are met, making him the club’s most expensive arrival to date.

Wrexham currently sit 14th in the Championship with two wins from eight games, having beaten Southampton 2‑1 before suffering a 6‑0 defeat to West Ham United, the latter match highlighting the challenges the club faces in the second tier.